Neal Gaiman is teaming up with Akiva Goldsman to bring the Gormenghast fantasy series to TV in an effort to give fans an in-depth look at what is perhaps one of the most impressive stories ever written. The series is comprised of five books written by Mervyn Peake and the story focuses upon the inhabitants of Castle Gormenghast. The structure is described as sprawling, gothic-like structure that features a wide cast of characters such as Titus, who is the heir to the House of Groan. There are also other such as the kitchen boy Steerpike who constantly schemes against everyone and the twin sisters Cora and Clarice.
The first two books in the series were originally adapted by BBC as a four-part series back in 2000, but it would appear that while fans did enjoy it there weren’t really enough to make a serious go of it. The original series starred Johnathan Rhys Meyers and the late Christopher Lee. Despite the fact that many people still aren’t really familiar with the story it does sound like something that might be worthy of a resurgence and another chance at greatness, and Gaiman and Goldsman could possibly be the ones to bring it back into the public eye in a way that would make people pay attention.
Gaiman had this to say:
“There is nothing in literature like Mervyn Peake’s remarkable Gormenghast novels. They were crafted by a master, who was also an artist, and they take us to an ancient castle as big as a city, with heroes and villains and people larger than life that are impossible to forget. There is a reason why there were two trilogies that lovers of the fantasy genre embraced in the Sixties: Lord of the Rings, and the Gormenghast books. It’s an honor to have been given the opportunity to help shepherd Peake’s brilliant and singular vision to the screen.”
So far everyone that’s currently involved is very excited about the prospect of bringing this series to life. It’s with high hopes that things should be moving forward eventually as Gaiman aand Goldsman conspire to create something that will have people entranced as they see just what kind of story has been discovered. Just to keep everyone interested, here’s a further description of what the story will be about.
A doomed lord, a scheming underling, an ancient royal family plagued by madness and intrigue – these are the denizens of ancient, sprawling, tumbledown Gormenghast Castle. Within its vast halls and serpentine corridors, the members of the Groan dynasty and their master Lord Sepulchrave grow increasingly out of touch with a changing world as they pass their days in unending devotion to meaningless rituals and arcane traditions. Meanwhile, an ambitious kitchen boy named Steerpike rises by devious means to the post of Master of the Ritual while he maneuvers to bring down the Groans. Breathtaking in its power and drenched in dark atmosphere, humor and intrigue, The Gormenghast Novels is a classic, one of the great works of 20th century British literature.
Feel free to start getting excited any time.
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